The one that got away? Not quite sure yet. We knew heading in that this one was going to be frustrating and difficult. Conditions didn’t help. The Ref, or lack there of, didn’t help either. This game had all the feelings of one from last season where we just needed one more break to take 3 points instead of 1. Normally I might be happy with taking something from Blue Balls. But this is The Great One (or whatever the hell he goes by these days) and I just can’t stand him. Hell, even though I fancy myself Real Madrid I dreaded his days there and the arrogance with which he goes about “managing” a team. Just utter crap and aside from watching Tater Tott’s season go down the drain I think this year I would find more satisfaction in watching “Jose can you see” lose a place at a top four finish. Nevertheless, WE lost this game (rather than Chelsea holding us to a point at home).

You could tell that things were going to be difficult as our style, and players, don’t suit the shite weather they were faced with. It is a bit hard difficult to watch “beautiful” football when the conditions and pitch play like a fucking kiddy pool. It didn’t help that we seemed to let our level of play be lowered to the conditions with which we were playing; no excuse though as this game could/should have been won.

Shite passing: This has got to stop. It has been running amuck the last couple games. Overplayed here. Giveaways there. Just not the type of touch we got spoiled with earlier in the year. Is it fatigue? Doubt? Are the players pressing now that there is the added pressure of trying to keep your place at the top rather than fight your way to a CL finish? Maybe there is an argument to be made that these boys have forgotten what it is like to play among the leaders. It has been some time since silverware or a league title. Hell, these lads were barely boys when Arsenal was laying claim to title after title. If there was ever a time to put together a flat out ass kicking to get things back on track then this is it (too bad it could be someone just a little bit easier than another London rival in West Ham). Either way, we have a nice run of games that should see us nabbing buckets of points; tighten it up boys.

Shite finishing: Ugh… our achilles heel up top. I like Giroud but the weight he is carrying is getting heavier and heavier as the season wears on. I like his play, I like his passing, I love his headwork on defense and yet we need more. Aside from one shot rattling the crossbar from them, we had the best opportunities in front of goal to put this away. I saw three clear chances, one great defensive effort and yet that still left me with two that he could have, and probably should have, put  into the net. Would an elite striker have done so? I hate to say it, but yes. (And this is with a glorious print of the man hanging in my office as I type this) If ever there was a time to spend, and spend big again, it is now. We need a first tier, elite striker. That is all that is missing from putting our team up on top for good. Hell, look at what that does for teams like the two Mannys and Liverpuke (for fuck sake Suarez is absolutely possessed and I’ll happily take my crow now).

Shite refereeing: I hear there is some statistic that sees us always doing poorly when dipshit is on the field. I don’t want to talk about it but just acknowledge it like everyone else… not a fair reason for our loss but the simple miss on what was an absolute penalty on Theo that could have given us the game was just nuts… fucking nuts… whatever.

Well, we got through a miserable stretch. We are tied atop the leaders. AND we have a very nice schedule setting us up for some big points over the next few weeks. All things aside, I’m looking forward to Boxing day, my drink and a warm fire that should see us putting things right again.

Until then, COYG.

Oh, and Merry Christmas lads.